Railway car underframe



Sept. 6, 1932. c. F. FREDE ETvAL RAILWAY CAR UNDERFBAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 filed Jan. 24, 19,31

m im n e n W Sept. 6, 1932. c ..F. FREDE E'r AL RAILWAY CAR UNDERFRAME 2 Sheets-Sheet .2

Filed Jan. 24, 19.31

Patented Sept. 6, 1932 UNITED .STATI-:s Aineriaiu CHARLES F. FREDE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, AND EINAR G. HALLQUIST, EWARDS- 'VILLE ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR vTO VGrIJSTERAL STEEL CASTINGS- GRANITE CITY, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE RAILWAY CAR UNDERFRAME .Application led January`2f1, 1931. Serial No. 511,662.

Our invention relates to railway rolling stock and consists in a novel undertrame for drop bottom cars.

The invention may be used under any type [l of car construction, but it is particularly intended to be used in conjunction with truss like side frames in which the side sill of the underframe forms the bottom chord for a side trame girder which carries most of the load, thus permitting the underframe center sill to be made smaller than would be necessary if it carried the entire load. This construction is particularly advantageous in drop bottom cars where the center sill should be ot comparatively narrow cross section in order to avoid interference with material being dumped and to provide for doors of maximum width. i

Heretoffore, underframes for cars with drop bottoms have usually been designed either with twovspaced center sills extending the entire length of the car, or with a single center sill of box or inverted U section.. In both of these forms the top of the underframe includes wide level surfaces which retain material being dumped and reduce the size of the door openings.

The main objects of my invention are to provide a simple and light but rigid gondola car underframe having a single center sill member and having side sills which may form the bottom chords of the side frame girders; and to reduce the number of bolted and riveted connections between the underframe members by casting various parts in an integral structure.

"We attain these objects and others in the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which* Figure lis a top view of a longitudinal half of an underframe embodying our invention. 1

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the same structure shown partly in section on the longitudinal center line and-partly in side elevation and showing part of the side frame truss.

Figure 3 is an end view of the underframe. Y

Figure 4c is a vertical transverse section,

the left side being'taken Von the line 4 4 of Figure land the right side being taken on the line fia`4a of Figure 2 and showing part of the sideframe truss.

Figure 5 is a similar view, the left side being, taken on the line 5--5 of Fi the right side being taken on A'the line 5cl-5a of Figure 2. y

Figure 6 is a detail section and elevation taken on the line G- of Figure 3.

The undert'rameV includes a center sill'l, holsters 2,` transoms 3a, 3b, `30, 3d, andre, endsills 4, and side sills 5, all formed inte. grally; lvThe traiisomsr and main part of the centersill are of I beam section :having their to flanges imperfoifate,.tliese'tlanges being ac apted, therefore, to form part of the floor of the car. The lower'portion of the center sill between feach end sill and the' adjoining bolster is biturcated as indicated at la in CORPORATION, 0F i OFFICE; i

gure -l 'and i Figure 4 to form spaced draft` sills for'v mounting the usual draft rigging.

\ The holsters 42 are preferablybf boxk sec-` tion With top andV side memberssubstan-vn tially Vimpertcrate and with cored openings 2b in the bottom Webs to support the inside cores and prcvide access to the interior for i removing the core sand after molding. AV j bolster of this shape is well adapted to transf mit the load carriedrby the side trames and most` eiiciently meets the requirements ofy strength, weight, cost, and clearance condi'- tions in this type ofcar. Each bolster is provided with the usual center plate 19, side,

bearing plates 20, and corrugated jacking plates 2l. Holes 22 and 22a are drilled through the` vertical. walls of one of :the bolsters on one side of the center sill, the

hole 22 permitting the passage of the brake cylinder pressure'retaining valve pipe Aand the holes 22a are bolt holes for a clamp to hold the pipe'in position. The hole 2a in the vertical walls of the bolster permits pas sage therethrough of 'the train line pipe. This construction eliminates the possibility of lmaterial falling through the bolster or piling up `between the vertical walls of the'- bolster'. y

The channel side sills 5- are' adapted to; form the bottom chords of the side girder orl main load carrying members of the car. Side sills 5 are located above the level of the transverse members, and ribs 6 are piovided at the intersection of each transverse and end flanges on rthe .transverse members,-

merge in a comparatively large flat surface adapted to mount and brace the vertical and diagonal struts vof the side framing which converge at theser points.

The transverse members 8 above the ond sills 4 preferably have upper flanges turned inwardly, as are the flanges on side sills 5, but these may project outwardly as shown at 8c in Figure 2. The transverse member which has the outwardly extending flangea providesfor an end wall, the lower portion of which engages the inner face of the transverse member and is provided w'ithcbraclrets 23 havingy trunnions 2li about which the wall may be swung inwardly and downwardly to accommodate long articles yof lading which must be carried in two cars.

' a 'permanent' end wall i'iied to The top flanges of the transverse'members 8 merge with the top flanges of the side sills 5 to form acontinuous flange around the underframe. The `end vof the underframe with the transverse'member which has an in-4 wardly turned llange i t the top provides for the lends of the sidewalls. VThe .outer face ofV member 8 serves as a seat for end wall uprights.

i Formed integrally with each end sill is a door stop? comprising an inclined plate 7a supported Vby three transverse ribs 7b (Figures 3 and 6). Door stops 9 on eachV side of the bolsters 2 (Figure d) comprise similarly' supported inclined plates 9a merging with the side walls of the bolster'and extending outwardly and downwardly. A door in closed position is illustrated in dot and dash lines at D and another door in open position is shown at D. The lower ends of the plates 9a merge with the bottom flanges of the holsters. Stops 10a formed on the outer sides of the transoms 3a and 3e correspond with the stops 9a formed on the bolsters and have threc'sup-v porting ribs. The other stops 10 on the intermediate transoms are made smaller and placed lower than'the stops 9 and 10a andV have only two supporting ribs. rlhe top plate portions of all the stops on the bolsters and transoms merge with :the adjacent vertical 1 webs, as at 10?) in Figure 5. T he stops 10 on the transoms 3a, 322,30, 3d, and 3e are located at a lower level than the stops 7, 9, and r1005 on the holsters, end sills, and transoms be-V cause the corresponding doors may drop farther than the doors .over the trucks, the

downward movement of 'which islimited by i center 'hinge andY form 'the hinge elements 11 Y and supports l'integially with tne `vertical web ofthe center sill'. A brake rigging lr-.g

18 merges with vthe bottom flange of the centersill. and ,air brake reservoir and cylinder brackets 14 and 15 project from the middle vtransom and an adjacent portion of the center sill, respectively` ,Hand brake .brackets 16 and push pole pockets 18 areformed integrally with each end sill 4l.

lhile we have illustrated a. complete un` derframe formedin a single casting, it is within the spirit of our invention to unite two or .more parts into an integral whole by welding, or to embody some features of theinvention in a smaller unit. Obviously, our invention is not limited to theV details of the preferred structure herein illustrated and de-` scribed, but includes these and various ,modi-A ications.- vWe contemplate the exclusive use ofallfsuch variations as come within the scope of our claims. '1

We claim p15-ln acaiunderfraine,r spaced bolster members, a single center sill member between saidbolster members, and support members arranged vto carry the' inner ends of drop doors, all of ,said members form-inganintegfalstr'ueture." l

2f. lii aA carV underframe, spaced bolster members, afsiiigle center sill member of "l beam section between said bolster 4members, and members on said center sill member Iar-A ranged to support the inner 'ends' of dropv doors, all 4of vsaid members' forming an integral structure.

g 3. In a ear underframe, spaced holsters, a single center sill between said holsters, said center sill being arranged to support the inner endsof drop doors, and channel shaped Y side sills, vallof said parts forming an integral structure.

4. In a railway car underframe, end sills, spaced holsters, intermediate transoms, yand channel shaped side sills extending above the level of the tops of said end sills, holsters, andy transoms, and having top and bot-tem flaiiges extending inwardly, all of saidk part-s forining an integral structure.

v5. In a railway vehicle underframe, end sills, spaced holsters, and intermediate cross transoms, all having-top flanges, und channel V shaped side sills extending above the level of.

the tops of said bolsters, end sills, and tran#k soms, said side sills having top'v and bottom flange-s extending inwardly, the bottom flanges thereof merging with the top flanges draft sills, and end sills, all of said of said end sills, holsters, and transoms, and all of said parts forming an integral structure.

6. In a railway vehicle underframe, spaced holsters, a center sill between said holsters, intermediate cross transoms between said holsters, and side sills located above the level of the tops of said holsters, center sill, and trans-oms and having bottom lflanges merging with said tops, all of said parts forming an integral structure.

7. In arailway vehicle underframe, spaced holsters, a center sill between said holsters, intermediate 'cross transoms between said holsters, end sills, a draft sill between each holster and the adjacent end sill and forming an extension on said center sill, and side sills extending above the level of the tops of said holsters, center sill, transoms, parts forming an integral structure.

8. In a railway vehicle underframe, spaced holsters and a side sill, said side sill being located above the level of said holsters and 'fbeing arranged to form the bottom chord sill, and transoms and having its bottom flange on the same level as the top flanges of said holsters, center sill, and transoms and forming portions thereof, and all of saidV parts forming an intergral structure.

10. In a railway vehicle underframe, spaced holsters, end sills, side sills extending above said bolsters and end sills, and a transverse member having a vertical web extnding above said end sill and at the same level as said side sills.

1l. In a railway vehicle underframe,l an integral structure comprising end sills, channel side sills having their horizontal flanges extending inwardly, and transverse members, each having an upright wall and a top flange at the same level as the top flanges of said side sills, said members being positioned above said end sills. Y

12. In a railway vehicle underframe,

" spaced holsters, an end sill having a vertical web, side sills above said holsters and end sill, and a transverse member above said end sill and having a vertical web substantially in alignment with the vertical web of said end sill, and all of said parts forming an integral structure.

13. A railway vehicle underframe integral bolster structure having an imperforate top member with imperforate flanges extendingv outwardly from said bolster in line with said top member, and elements von said under- Y frame for mounting drop doors, said flanges being adapted to overlie said drop doors.

14. In a railway vehicle underframe, end sill members, spaced bolster members, and intermediate transom members between said holster members, all of said members forming an integral structure and having imperforate top flanges adapted to form part of the car bottom, and said side sills including elements for mounting separate flooring material.

15. In a railway car underframe, a side sill having a vertical web, a transverse member formed integrally therewith, and a vertical gusset formed on said side sill and at the end of said member in alignment with said vertical web and adapted to mount vertical and diagonal struts of a side frame truss.

16. In a railway car underframe, a cross member having an end flange, and a side sill above` said cross member having a vertical web and a top flange, said end flange being in vertical alignmentwith said vertical web and integral therewithV to form a surface adapted to mount a vertical post and a diagonal strut of a side frame truss. Y

17. In a railway car underframe, a center sill, door hinge elements on said center sill, and a door end supporting element intermediate said hingeelements, and both of said elements and said center sill forming an integral structure.' v

18. In a railway car underframe, a` center sill having a vertical web anda top flange, a pair of spaced hinge butt elements on said vertical web, a door supporting element intermediate said butt elements and on said vertical web, said elements being spaced below said center sill top flange, all of said parts forming an integral structure. 19. In a railway car underframe, a cross member having a vertical Vweb and a drop Ydoor stop formed integrallyV therewith, said stop comprising a plate projecting from said vertical web in a plane perpendicular to said web and inclined downwardly and outward-` ly, and a plurality of transverse ribs supporting said plate and merging with said web.

20. In a railway car underframe, a transverse member, and drop door stops on oppo-l site sides of said member and integral therewith, said stops being at different levels.

21. In a railway car underframe, a transverse member, door stops formed on opposite sides thereof and at different levels, and a transverse rib extending acrosssaid transverse member and supporting both of said stops. y

22. In a'railway car underframe, a transverse member having a vertical web and atop flange, and drop door stops on opposite sides of said member, each of said stops compris-- ing a flange spaced below the'top flange ofV said transverse member and merging with les all formed integrally.

the adjacent vertical web in a V shaped portion, and reinforcingribs below said top flanges extending across said vertical web.

23. ln a railway car underframe, a bolster, a side bearing, andA a drop door stop,

24. In a railwayrcar, spaced bolsters, a center sill betweensaid holsters said sill having a single vertical web and a draft sill forming an extension on said center sill beyond one of said bolsters, said draft sill comprising a top flange and a vertical web beneath said flange, and said web being bifurcated in its lower portion to form spaced legs.

25. In a railway oar, an end sill element, a belster element, a draft member betweenr said elements, said draft member comprising a top flange, a vertical web below said flange, spaced draft sillsbelow said web, a plate connecting the tops of said draft sills with the bottom of said web, spaced hinge butts on said web between said top flange and said top plate, and a door support on said web intermediate said hinge butts, all of said parts forming an integral structure.

26. In a railway vehicle underframe, spaced bolsters, intermediate transoms between said bolsters, side sills and end members above the level of said holstersY andtransoms, end sills beneath said end members, door stops on said bolsters, transoms, and end sills, a single center sill having a vertical webvand top flange, draft sills forming eX- tensions on said center sill beyond said bolsters, pairs of'spac'ed hinge 'butts on said center sill and draft sills, anddoor end supports intermediate said hinge butts, all of said parts forming an integral structure.

27. In combination inra railway car, a side f frame truss and an underframe, said underframe including integral transverse elements and a side sill positioned entirely above said elements andv adapted to form the bottom chord of said side frame truss.

28. In a railway vehicle underframe, spaced bolsters, intermediate cross transoms between said bolsters, end sills, a single center sill having a vertical web and a top flange, side sills, and door hinge butts'on said Vcenter sill, all of said parts forming an integral structure. f

ln testimony whereof we hereunto afliX our.

i signatures this 20th day of January,l93l.

CHARLES F. FREDE. Y ENAR G. HALLQUlST.V 

